“The Pirates of Penzance,” Phoebe said, adopting Fiona’s whispered aside.
Fiona grasped Phoebe firmly by the arm. “We are leaving.” She hustled Phoebe toward the door but paused just before they exited. “I’ll have that darling red hat for myself, Mrs. Palmer, and trust you to choose something appropriate for my sister.”
“Yes, Mrs. Frost. Yes, of course.”
Afraid Mrs. Palmer might actually bow and scrape, Phoebe pulled away from Fiona and hurried out the door on her own steam. She waited on the boardwalk for Fiona to catch up to her.
“You embarrassed me in there,” said Fiona. “Did you even notice we had an audience?”
“The two women in the corner fussing over the fancy straw hat? Yes, I noticed them. I believe they will find no fault with your performance. You handled me admirably. And purchasing two hats from Mrs. Palmer before you left? You have a particular genius for improvisation.”
“I will not be flattered into forgetting I am put out with you, but just the same, I happen to agree.”
Phoebe laughed because she could not help herself. “Oh, Fiona, I do love you, you know.” She took three more steps before she realized Fiona was no longer walking with her. She stopped, turned, and was confronted by Fiona’s unreadable stare and colorless face. “What is it? Are you all right?” She stepped in, took her hand. “Fiona?”
Fiona blinked. “Did you mean it?”
Phoebe frowned. “Mean what?”
“Hmm. I thought so.” She removed her hand from Phoebe’s. “Sometimes you can be so cruel.”
Now it was Phoebe who blinked. Fiona’s stare was no longer unreadable. It was implacable. Phoebe quickly stepped aside when Fiona made to brush past her. “Fiona! Wait!” Her words had the opposite effect. Fiona increasedher pace so that Phoebe was forced to lengthen her stride to catch up.
They passed the feed store, the mercantile, and the land office without exchanging a word. Their kid boots lay down a soft and steady tattoo on the boardwalk. Fiona stared straight ahead, her chin bobbing occasionally to acknowledge the greeting of a passerby, while Phoebe cast her eyes all around. It did not escape her notice that no one seemed to be in expectation of engaging Fiona in conversation; they simply nodded and moved on. What Phoebe could not divine was whether this was the usual course of things, or whether it was a consequence of Fiona’s high dudgeon.
“That was the apothecary that we just walked by,” said Phoebe. “Didn’t you say you wanted to go there?”
“I’m not talking to you yet.”
“I understand. I still don’t know why.”
“And you are accounted to be so clever.” She stopped without warning and looked up and down the wide dusty street. “Where is Remington? I don’t see him, his horse, or the buggy. I don’t understand why Ben could not have accompanied us. In fact, I don’t understand why we needed anyone along.” The considering look she gave Phoebe was not a complimentary one. “It must be because of you. You draw trouble, Phoebe. You know you do.”
“Would you prefer that I walk on the other side of the street?”
“Hah! That is precisely what you want, isn’t it? To cut loose from me so you can meet up with Remington. I’m sure you know exactly where he is.”
“I think he’s at the wheelwright,” Phoebe said with credible calm. “Something about one of the buggy wheels wobbling.”
“Well, you would know that. You hang on his every word.Thereis something I have noticed. And I’m not the only one. Ellie’s remarked on it. So has Thaddeus. If I wanted to pretend it wasn’t happening, I would not be allowed that luxury.”
“Maybe you would like to say these things when we’realone?” When Fiona drew a breath as if she meant to continue, Phoebe suggested, “Or at least say them while we’re walking?”
Fiona nodded stiffly, stepped down to the street from the sidewalk, and indicated Phoebe should follow. “How could you, Phoebe? How could you let yourself be seduced by him?”
Phoebe might have stopped in her tracks if it was not for the buckboard bearing down on her.
“Lord, watch where you’re going,” Fiona said. “And step lively. One would think you had no experience crossing Fifth Avenue at midday.”
Phoebe was still trying to get her bearings so she did not mind when Fiona took her by the sleeve and pulled her across the street as if she were a child. When they were once again safely on the boardwalk, Phoebe hissed, “He has not seduced me.”
“Then it’s because you went willingly. Really, Phoebe, what possessed you to share the swing with him and put your feet on his lap? As if that behavior was not egregious enough, you made it worse by falling asleep. Falling asleep!”
“Fiona. By my calculation, that occurred nearly four weeks ago.”
“It occurred on the second night you were here.”
“I understand, and I do not disagree with your estimation of my behavior, but why are you only calling it to my attention now?”
